Genetic variability and molecular evolution of arabis mosaic virus based on the coat protein gene sequence

Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) is an important pathogen infecting a wide range of plant species worldwide. In the present study, we carried out exhaustive phylogenetic analyses based on the coat protein (CP) sequence of ArMV isolates originating from different host plants and geographic regions. Maximum-likelihood reconstruction revealed the presence of three distinct, well-supported phylogroups. BaTS analyses indicated that the diversity of ArMV isolates may be correlated with both host plant and geographic origin. Moreover, population genetic analyses showed significant differences in the level of genetic diversity among variants within ArMV that originated from rhubarb plants, as expected by quasispecies. Further analysis revealed that both selection and recombination are shaping the population structure of ArMV. In total 14 groups of residues were detected as coevolving for different amino acid properties.